The Wild Coast Sun Hotel and Casino in the Transkei region of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province is operated by Sun International and the company has applied for its casino licence, due to expire on 31 August 2009, to be renewed. Sun International is already competing for another Eastern Cape casino licence where rival bids mean that the Boardwalk Casino near Port Elizabeth could be in jeopardy. Tomorrow the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board is holding a hearing into the Sun International Wild Coast Sun application.

King Mpondombini Sigcau has written to the Board questioning the validity of a lease signed by Sun International and the former homeland government of Transkei in 1979. The land where the hotel casino was built was leased for 50 years for an annual fee of R30,000 and the deed renewed in 1992 with an option of another 50 years. The Board referred the letter, which also raised the matter of monies that should have been paid into a trust for the amaMpondo nation, to Sun International.

According to Sun International it has complied with the Gambling Act and the king’s objections should be disregarded. The company says that the king’s concerns should be referred to the Board but lawyers acting on behalf of the king have criticised the fact that the Board will not postpone tomorrow’s hearing to allow time for preparing the case. The Board, in its invitation for applications for the available casino licence in Zone 5, has proposed minimum criteria including the investment of at least R250 million (US$34.7 million) and an Eastern Cape theme or a ‘radical must see, must do’ theme. (E-08.04.08)

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